Veneer lathe gauge



United States Patent O 3,298,106 VENEERy LATHE GAUGE Delbert G. Duvall, Gold Beach, Greg., assigner of fifty percent to Curtis R. Duvall, Gold Beach, Greg. Filed Jan. 28, 1965,.Ser,. No. 428,625 4 Claims. (Cl. 153-185) This invention relates to a gauge and -more particularly to a veneer lathe gauge, for adjusting the height of a roller or pressure bar above the height of a knife edge, of the knife of a veneer lathe.

It is necessary to adjust the height between the pressure or roller bar of a veneer lathe and the knife edge, of the knife of the veneer lathe, to a predetermined distance to thereby assure that the veneer stripped will be of a particular quality and thickness. When setting up a veneer lathe for these purposes the vertical distance between the pressure or roller bar and the knife edge of the knife must of necessity be maintained at a constant relationship throughout the length of the Veneer lathe. Such maintenance of this distance results in a more accurate and more perfect veneer.

Accordingly,` it is a primary object of this invention to provide a ygauge or measuring means which will measure the distance between the roller or pressure bar and the knife edge of the knife of a veneer lathe.

It is a further object of this invention to provide `a veneer gauge which may be held firmly against a veneer lathe roller bar in a horizontal position to thereby allow adjustment of the knife edge of the veneer lathe, so that the knife edge abuts against the veneer gauge at a predetermined distance from the roller bar of the veneer lathe.

It is well known that a veneer lathe comprises a knife and a` roller or pressure bar of substantial longitudinal length. The knife and the roller or pressure bar are fixed at a distance apart to allow the stripping of veneer from a log. This stripping of veneer is best obtained when the pressure of the log against the roller or pressure bar occurs at the same time that the veneer is cut from the log by the knife. In the event that the log should press against the pressure bar or roller bar prior to the stripping of the veneer from the log b y the knife an improper `and imperfect veneer would be cut from the log. When the pressure of the veneer against the pressure bar or roller bar of the veneer lathe occurs after the veneer has been stripped from the log by the knife of the veneer lathe an improper and imperfect veneer results. Therefore the necessity of maintaining the vertical relationship between the roller or pressure bar and the knife edge of the veneer lathe can be readily observed.' This vertical distance must be maintained constant or as close to a constant relationship as is feasibly possible throughout the full length `of the knife edge and the full length of the roller or pressure bar. When the roller or pressure bar and the knife edge have been adjusted to a proper predetermined distance from eachother, the veneer will be squeezed or pressed during cutting and a smooth cut surface will result `whereby a high grade veneer may be obtained from the veneer lathe.` Therefore, it is a still further object of this invention to provide a veneer gauge which willf accurately measure the distance between the roller or pressure bar and the knife edge of the knife of the veneer lathe.` This invention provides a means whereby the roller bar may be` accurately spaced a predetermined distance from the knife point to allow the veneer to be squeezed or pressed during cutting and to allow a smooth cut surface to be obtained.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter 3 ,298, l 016 Patented Jan. 17, 1967 ACC described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the veneer lathe showing the arrangement for adjusting the roller bar and the elements for -adjusting the knife in detail; l

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the veneer gauge of this invention showing the veneer gauge pressed against the roller or pressure bar and showing the knife edge of the veneer lathe;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the veneer lathe gauge of this invention and showing the veneer lathe gauge in measuring relationship to the roller or pressure bar assembly and the knife assembly of the veneer lathe. The roller or pressure bar assembly and the knife and knife point assembly are shown in partial fragmentary crosssectional view;

FIGURE 4 is an end view of the veneer lathe gauge of this invention and showing the veneer lathe gauge pressed against the roller bar, with the flat end of the micrometer screw abutting against the knife point of the knife of the Veneer lathe, the flat end being hidden by the thumb rest of the veneer lathe gauge; and

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of the veneer lathe gauge taken along section line 5-5 of FIG- URE 2 showing the veneer lathe gauge in abutting relationship to the roller bar and knife edge of lthe veneer lathe.

In FIGURE 1, the roller or pressure bar 10 is mounted in a roller bar housing 12 which is mounted by means of the roller clamp 14 to the roller bar head 16. The roller bar head 16 is carried by supporting arms 18 which are pivotally attached to the frame of the veneer lathe 20 by means of a bearing 22. Eccentrics 24 provide a means for moving the supporting arms 18 toward and away from the knife 26 of the veneer lathe. The knife 26 has a knife edge or point 28 at one end thereof and is affixed to a knife carriage 30 by a knife clamp 32. Since the knife is of substantial longitudinal length a series of knife clamps will be found along the length of the machine. The knife clamps 32 may be tightened or loosened by tightening or loosening a knife clamp bolt 34 which extends through slots 35 in the knife. A jack screw 36 is seen as abutting against the bottom side or back edge of the knife. The jack screw 36 may accurately be adjusted to thereby accurately adjust the height of the knife edge.

The veneer lathe gauge of this invention may be used in one operation to regulate the vertical distance between the roller or pressure bar 10 and the edge 28 of the knife 26 so that the knife edge 28 and the roller or pressure bar will be at a distance `apart to allow the veneer to be pressed against the roller or pressure bar at the instant 4that the veneer is cut or stripped by the knife edge 28.

To better understand this operation a detailed description of the veneer lathe gauge will first be recited. The veneer lathe comprises a longitudinal base 38 which is bent obliquely at 40 to provide a centering head at one end of the veneer lathe gauge. The centering head is obtained by bending this end of the gauge inward towards the longitudinal base 38 to a shallow V-shaped configuration to obtain contact points 42 and 44. A micrometer screw 46 is set back a short distance from the centering head and has a knurled knob 48 at the side and a fiat head or flange head 50 at the underside of the micrometer screw. A spirit level 52 is provided on the upper side of the longitudinal base 38. The spirit level 52 comprises a normal bubble leveling means 54 which may be leveled to reside between centering marks 56.

. will be noticeable on the spirit level.

Now then, to adjust the distance of knife edge 28 below the roller or pressure bar llt) the ilat head 50 of the micrometer screw 46 is run down a predetermined distance from its centering position. The centering position is the position at which the bottom edge of the flat head of the micrometer screw and the center of the roller or pressure bar will lie in a horizontal plane when the centering head of the veneer lathe gauge is pressed against the roller or pressure bar. A rule 58 is provided on a thumb rest 60. This rule has indicia marked thereon, and in a preferred embodiment of this invention, one outstanding indicia 62 is marked on the rule. This outstanding indicia is designed to indicate the leveling or centering position of the veneer lathe gauge. In the leveling or centering position of the veneer lathe gauge the center of the roller or pressure bar and the bottom edge of the flat head 50 and the outstanding indicia 62 will all lie along the same horizontal plane when the veneer lathe gauge is level.

Now then when the distance between the roller bar and the knife edge, at which the roller bar and the knife will properly cut the veneer is known, the roller bar and knife may be adjusted as follows. First run the flat head of the micrometer screw down this known distance from the center line represented by the outstanding indicia 62. The flat head 50 of the micrometer screw 46 may be locked in this position by running a lock nut 64, on the micrometer screw 46, down against the longitudinal base of the veneer lathe gauge as is shown in FIGURE 5. The roller bar may be run back from the knife edge three-sixteenths of an inch. To accurately adjust the relationship between the roller pressure bar and the knife edge it is advisable that this measurement be made accurately with a rule, e.g. each time the lathe is set up. On some veneer lathes when the pressure bar is run back the pressure bar is automatically raised therefore if this measurement is not made accurately the proper reading on the gauge will not be obtained. It is also advisable when making this adjustment that the knife carriage should be'stopped in substantially the same spot each time. This will obviate the possibility that the pitchtrack might further throw the gauge off in its measurement. The centering head of the gauge is then pressed against the roller bar by applying pressure against the thumb rest 60. The flat head 50 of the veneer lathe gauge is allowed to rest on the knife edge 28 as is shown in FIGURE 5. After having done this the roller or pressure bar may be raised or lowered until the bubble in the spirit level rests between the centering marks 56. The center of the roller bar is then adjusted at the desired distance above the knife edge 28 according to whatever distance the edge of the flat head 50 has been set down from the center or zero indicia 62.

It is necessary that the distance between the roller or pressure bar 10 and the knife edge 28 be maintained constant throughout the longitudinal length of the pressure bar and the knife 26 of the veneer lathe. To set up the machine so that this distance is maintained in a constant relationship throughout the longitudinal length of the roller bar and the knife the veneer lathe gauge of this invention may be used to measure the vertical distance between the pressure bar and the knifeedge throughout the length of the machine. By moving the veneer lathe gauge along the length of the knife edge while the centering head of the veneer gauge is held firmly against the roller bar any variation in the height of the knife By maintaining the contact between lthe roller bar and the contact points 42 and 44 of the center head and the contact between tance between the knife edge and the roller or pressure bar will reflect in the position of the spirit level which will itself deviate from a level disposition when such deviations occur. When such a deviation is noticed the position of the knife edge 28 may be corrected by adjusting the jack screw 36 adjacent to the point where such a deviation occurs. Knife clamps 32 together with the knife bolts 34 and corresponding jack screw-s 36 are found at spaced distances along the longitudinal length of the knife. To correct an improper distance between the knife edge 28 and the roller or pressure bar 10 detected by the veneer gauge and the knife clamp 32 nearest the location at which the the knife edge 28 deviates in its vertical distance from the roller or pressure bar 10 should be loosened by loosening the knife bolt clamp 34. Then the jack screw 36 should be adjusted upwards or downwards as the case may be to raise or lower the knife edge 28 until the veneer lathe gauge with the contact points 42, 44 and the contact between the flat head 50 and the knife edge being maintained is disposed in a horizontal position. This horizontal position will be indicated when the bubble 54 in the spirit level rests between the centering marks 56. This operation may be repeated wherever the vertical distance between the knife edge 28 and the roller or pressure bar 18 deviates from the desired vertical distance as may -be observed through use of the spirit level.

This veneer lathe gauge may be used for adjusting the knife of the veneer lathe at the start of a new operation or at the start of each day. The height of one end of the knife is adjusted in relationship to the roller or pressure bar by using the veneer lathe gauge .as previously described or may be adjusted by using a regular knife gauge. Then the veneer lathe gauge is moved longitudinally along the knife edge, care being taken to maintain the contact between the centering head of the veneer lathe gauge, and the roller or pressure bar 10 and the contact between the knife edge 28 and the at head 50 of the micrometer screw 46. Whenever the knife edge 28 and the roller or pressure bar 10 are improperly distanced, the bubble of the spirit level will deviate from a position between the centering marks on the `spirit level. The knife 26 may be adjusted by manipulating the jack screws as previously described, until the bubble in the spirit level rests between the centering marks on the spirit level. By performing this operation throughout the length of the machine the knife 26 can be accurately aligned in relationship to the bar 10.

By usingthe veneer lathe gauge of this invention to set up a veneer lathe it may be ascertained that the veneer lathe is properly set up, and that a high grade veneer may be obtained from the machine. Once a lathe opera- `tor has used a veneer lathe in several operations the distance between the knife edge 28 and the roller or pressure bar 10 at which -a high grade Veneer is obtained will be well known. Thereafter by using the veneer lathe gauge of this invention, precise control of the relative positions of the roller bar and the knife edge essential for the production of high grade veneer can be obtained in every instance.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A veneer lathe gauge for adjusting the height of the pressure roller bar above the knife edge uniformly along the full length of the knife edge and roller bar of a veneer lathe comprising a longitudinal elongate base having a depending centering head at one end thereof, said centering head having two roller bar contact points thereon, a screw threaded through said longitudinal base inwardly of the centering head, a at head on said screw, said flat head being below said longitudinal base and adjacent said centering head whereby said two contact points of said centering head may be pressed against the roller bar and said fiat head on said screw may be screwed a fixed distance down to adjust the relationship of said knife edge to said roller bar by adjusting said knife edge to rest against said fiat head on said screw, a spirit level having a bubble and centering marks afiixed to the upper surface of the longitudinal base at the end thereof opposite to said centering head whereby said knife edge may be raised or lowered against said flat head on said screw until said bubble is between the centering marks on said spirit level to thereby .adjust said knife edge at a predetermined vertical distance from said roller bar, a thumb rest secured to the underside of said longitudinal base for holding the centering head iirmly against the roller bar by pressing rmly against said thumb rest, said thumb rest having a notch facing away from the centering head, and a vertical ruler on said thumb rest adjacent the centering head and fiat head on the screw,

2. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said screw is provided with a knurled knob on the upper end thereof above said base, a locknut on said screw orientated above said base for locking the screw and flat head thereon in adjustable relation to said base.

3. The structure as defined in claim 2 wherein said spirit level extends along the elongate base from a point adjacent the thumb rest to the end thereof remote from the centering head and forms a symmetrical projection on the upper surface thereof to form a handle for the gauge for gripping by the fingers thereof when the thumb is orientated along the undersurface of said base with the rounded end of the thumb received in the notch of the thumb rest.

4. The structure as defined in claim 3 wherein said thumb rest is provided with a vertical slot therein facing said flat head on the screw, said ruler having one edge thereof received in said slot with the upper end of the ruler abutting the undersurface of said base.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 451,123 4/1891 Grannis 33--185 2,3 80,593 7/1945 Hanes 33-185 2,495,487 1/1950 St. Germain 33-185 3,200,508 8/1965 Harper 33-185 FOREIGN PATENTS 593,810 10/1947 Great Britain.

LEONARD FORMAN, Primary Examiner.

SAMUEL S. MATTHEWS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A VENEER LATHE GAUGE FOR ADJUSTING THE HEIGHT OF THE PRESSURE ROLLER BAR ABOVE THE KNIFE EDGE UNIFORMLY ALONG THE FULL LENGTH OF THE KNIFE EDGE AND ROLLER BAR OF A VENEER LATHE COMPRISING A LONGITUDINAL ELONGATE BASE HAVING A DEPENDING CENTERING HEAD AT ONE END THEREOF, SAID CENTERING HEAD HAVING TWO ROLLER BAR CONTACT POINTS THEREON, A SCREW THREADED THROUGH SAID LONGITUDINAL BASE INWARDLY OF THE CENTERING HEAD, A FLAT HEAD ON SAID SCREW, SAID FLAT HEAD BEING BELOW SAID LONGITUDINAL BASE AND ADJACENT SAID CENTERING HEAD WHEREBY SAID TWO CONTACT POINTS OF SAID CENTERING HEAD MAY BE PRESSED AGAINST THE ROLLER BAR AND SAID FLAT HEAD ON SAID SCREW MAY BE SCREWED A FIXED DISTANCE DOWN TO ADJUST THE RELATIONSHIP OF SAID KNIFE EDGE TO SAID ROLLER BAR BY ADJUSTING SAID KNIFE EDGE TO REST AGAINST SAID FLAT HEAD ON SAID SCREW, A SPIRIT LEVEL HAVING A BUBBLE AND CENTERING MARKS AFFIXED TO THE UPPER SURFACE OF THE LONGITUDINAL BASE AT THE END THEREOF OPPOSITE TO SAID CENTERING HEAD WHEREBY SAID KNIFE EDGE MAY BE RAISED OR LOWERED AGAINST SAID FLAT HEAD ON SAID SCREW UNTIL SAID BUBBLE IS BETWEEN THE CENTERING MARKS ON SAID SPIRIT LEVEL TO THEREBY ADJUST SAID KNIFE EDGE AT A PREDETERMINED VERTICAL DISTANCE FROM SAID ROLLER BAR, A THUMB REST SECURED TO THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID LONGITUDINAL BASE FOR HOLDING THE CENTERING HEAD FIRMLY AGAINST THE ROLLER BAR BY PRESSING FIRMLY AGAINST SAID THUMB REST, SAID THUMB REST HAVING A NOTCH FACING AWAY FROM THE CENTERING HEAD, AND A VERTICAL RULER ON SAID THUMB REST ADJACENT THE CENTERING HEAD AND FLAT HEAD ON THE SCREW. 